Interdisciplinary Courses (SOHE) (INTER-HE) < University of Wisconsin-Madison

INTER-HE 201 — BELONGING, PURPOSE AND THE ECOLOGY OF HUMAN HAPPINESS: ECOYOU

3 credits.

This course explores the art and science of purposeful living by integrating academic knowledge with issues real and relevant to students' lives including: identity and belonging; happiness, purpose and meaning; self-awareness and self-presentation; romantic, peer and family relationships; material culture, consumer behavior and financial well-being; and connections to community, culture, and society. From the microbes that inhabit our guts to political revolutions sparked by a tweet, human lives are embedded in an ecology of complex, interdependent systems. Using the lens of Human Ecology, you will address "big questions" like: How am I connected to others and to larger systems? What brings happiness and works for the "greater good" in human lives? An overarching goal of the course is to help you understand yourself as embedded in the web of ever-evolving interconnected networks, an "EcoYou." Human Ecology is a systems approach to studying and understanding relationships between humans and their everyday environments; it is a civic and socially conscious orientation that is committed to understanding and improving the quality of human lives. Human Ecology is inherently interdisciplinary drawing on research, theories and methods from diverse fields such as sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, public health, biology, and art and design.

INTER-HE 202 — SOHE CAREER & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

1 credit.

Provides an introduction to leadership development, career development, and career readiness competencies.

INTER-HE 301 — SPECIAL TOPICS IN HUMAN ECOLOGY

1-3 credits.

Specialized subject matter of current interest.

INTER-HE/ELPA 770 — COMMUNITY, OPPORTUNITY, AND JUSTICE

3 credits.

Critical examination of school-community engagement and collaboration. Examines theory and practice of mutually beneficial collaboration in diverse education settings, including leadership issues in collaborative settings, and facilitators and inhibitors to effective collaboration.

INTER-HE 792 — THEORIES AND PERSPECTIVES IN HUMAN ECOLOGY

1-2 credits.

Explore the multidisciplinary theories and perspectives that inform ecological thinking and the lens of the School of Human Ecology. Gain a clear understanding of the human ecological perspective, as it presents in SoHE; the benefits and challenges of applying this lens to research, policy, and outreach; and how your work fits within the larger human ecological perspective. Furthermore, develop skills and discover resources supporting cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration.

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Define "human ecology" in a way that is personally significant and contextualizes your work
Audience: Graduate

2. Describe several cross-cutting perspectives that link definitions of human ecology across fields and disciplines (content areas)
Audience: Graduate

3. Integrate perspectives into a human ecological framework relevant to your work and professional goals
Audience: Graduate

4. Employ a human ecological perspective in framing questions and critically evaluating issues
Audience: Graduate

5. Evaluate the benefits and challenges of approaching your work with a human ecological lens
Audience: Graduate

6. Articulate your emerging identity as a human ecologist
Audience: Graduate

INTER-HE 793 — RESEARCH METHODS

3 credits.

Basic techniques: questionnaires, interviews, behavioral observation, sampling, experimental designs and data analysis using computer. Learn to write a research proposal with literature review.

INTER-HE 801 — SPECIAL TOPICS IN HUMAN ECOLOGY

1-3 credits.

Special Topics in Human Ecology.

INTER-HE 810 — SEMINAR FAMILY ECOLOGY

3 credits.

This seminar is focused on professional development and practice skills grounded in a human ecology perspective, which is typically seen as the engaged application of arts and sciences to issues affecting life quality.

INTER-HE 815 — PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PRACTITIONERS

1 credit.

Special topics related to applied work and professional skill development in Human Ecology.

INTER-HE 940 — COLLABORATIVE CAPSTONE I

3 credits.

Begin the collaborative design thinking process by exploring current state, empathizing with users, and defining opportunity areas for design. Specifically - find and frame a challenge, break it down to get started, conduct ethnographic and inspiration research, synthesize research findings into themes, insights and opportunities, visualize opportunities with frameworks and concepts, and compile evidence for desirability, feasibility and viability. Practice behaviors of design thinking - ethics, critique, and storytelling.

Requisites: Declared in the MS Design + Innovation

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: No

Last Taught: Summer 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Apply an iterative design thinking process on an interdisciplinary team.
Audience: Graduate

2. Frame a challenge at an appropriate level for design exploration.
Audience: Graduate

3. Empathize with a broad range of stakeholders to understand needs through the ethnographic method.
Audience: Graduate

4. Synthesize raw learnings into opportunities for design.
Audience: Graduate

5. Communicate effectively, both visually and orally.
Audience: Graduate

6. Demonstrate constructive collaboration behaviors— creative critique, balancing independent work with group work, and knowing when to get an outside opinion.
Audience: Graduate

INTER-HE 980 — CAPSTONE SEMINAR

1-3 credits.

Facilitates and supports completion of a capstone project. Gain feedback from peers and the instructor; set goals and provides structure for timely and successful project completion; covers skills and knowledge to support students in the next stage of their careers, after graduate school.

Requisites: Consent of instructor

Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement

Repeatable for Credit: Yes, for 2 number of completions

Last Taught: Fall 2024

Learning Outcomes: 1. Articulate key issues in using and communicating about research in applied settings.
Audience: Graduate

2. Plan and carry out a capstone project demonstrating their substantive knowledge and analytic skills in the human ecology field.
Audience: Graduate

3. Communicate the results of their capstone project to both academic and non-academic audiences.
Audience: Graduate